Unawatuna is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Sri Lanka and is the most “famous” beach in the country. It is a lovely banana-shaped beach of golden sand and turquoise water, surrounded by green palm trees. The double reef over the bay creates a natural pool at Unawatuna. Due to this natural pool, Unawatuna is popular for safe swimming and bathing. You also can snorkel in the clear blue waters of the bay. It is a great place for surfing and diving. Or you can go fishing or snorkel out to sea by using the traditional catamarans dotting the beach. The beach also has arrangements of sunbeds, mats, and umbrellas which also prove to be a blessing for anybody who decides to watch the sun take a dip in the ocean whilst reveling in the sundowner. Tourists can avail of these sunbeds on rent from vendors that are easily spotted here. Unawatuna beach is surrounded by a number of other tourist destinations that unfold unique, beautiful aspects of Unawatuna, such as the history, architecture and culture. To learn about these, tourists can explore Japanese Peace Pagoda, as the name suggests is where one must go to discover inner peace. It is located at a distance of just 2 kilometers from the beach and is one of the three main Japanese stupas in Sri Lanka. It was built by the Japanese monks and remains well maintained even today. In addition to solitude, the stupa also offers panoramic views of the surrounding jungle along with the bay. At the west end of the beach, there are some rocks and stairs that lead up to a small hill with a pagoda and a big Buddha statue. It’s a nice little walk with a beautiful view overlooking the beach. The Jungle Beach Tourists looking for a less crowded beach may want to head to the Jungle beach which is located on the route opposite to Unawatuna. A small one in size, the beach is surrounded by jungle from all sides. The road to this beach is adventurous and tricky with uneven trails and proves to be a long one if covered on foot. On the way here, there are bright chances for one to spot peacocks and monitor lizards that certainly add to the fun of visiting this place. With fancy restaurants, bars, shacks, beach properties, shopping streets and fun activities worth engaging in that are carried out in the surrounding areas. The local Sri Lankan culture reflects through various features at the beach.
